Zinc (Zn) – Periodic Table [Element Information & More]

Zinc element (Zn) is in group 12 and period 4 of a periodic table. Zinc is in the d-block and it is classified as a post-transition element on the periodic table.

There is a lot more information related to zinc which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.

So let’s dive right into it!

Table of contents

• Zinc element (Information Table)
• Zinc element in Periodic table
• Facts about Zinc
• Properties of Zinc
• Uses of Zinc

Zinc Element (Information Table)

The important data related to zinc element is given in the table below.

Appearance of zinc	Silvery gray
Atomic number of zinc	30
Symbol of zinc	Zn
Atomic mass of zinc	65.38 u
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in zinc	Protons: 30, Neutrons: 35, Electrons: 30
State of zinc (at STP)	Solid
Group number of zinc in periodic table	12
Period number of zinc in periodic table	4
Block of zinc in periodic table	d-block
Category of zinc	Post transition metal
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in zinc	2, 8, 18, 2
Electron configuration of zinc	[Ar] 3d10 4s2
Orbital diagram of zinc
Electronegativity of zinc (on pauling scale)	1.65
Atomic radius of zinc (van der Waals radius)	139 picometers
Density of zinc	7.14 g/cm3
1st ionization energy of zinc	9.394 eV
Main isotope of zinc	64Zn
Melting point of zinc	692.6 K or 419.5 °C or 787.15 °F
Boiling point of zinc	1180 K or 907 °C or 1665 °F
Crystal structure of zinc	Hexagonal Close Packing (HCP)

Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).

Zinc element in Periodic table

The Zinc element (Zn) has the atomic number 30 and is located in group 12 and period 4. Zinc is a metal and it is classified as a post-transition element.

Click on above elements in the periodic table to see their information.

Facts about zinc

Here are a few interesting facts about zinc element.

1. Zinc was given its name from the Greek word “zinke” (zinke means pointed).
2. After iron, zinc is the 2^nd most abundant trace metal present in the human body after iron.
3. Zinc is the 4^th common metal used in metallurgy industries. (The 1^st is iron, 2^nd is aluminum and 3^rd is copper).
4. Zinc is the 24^th most abundant element present in the earth’s crust.
5. Around 17% of the total zinc production is used in alloys like brass and bronze.
6. 50% of the total zinc production is used in galvanization of iron.
7. Zinc can be recycled easily and today 30% of the total zinc is recycled.
8. Zinc is obtained in large quantities from its ore Zinc Sulfide.

Properties of zinc

Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of zinc.

Physical properties of zinc

• Zinc is a solid metal having a silvery-gray appearance.
• Zinc is hard but it is malleable at temperatures higher than 100 °C.
• The atomic mass of zinc is 65.38 u and its density is 7.14 g/cm³.
• There are many isotopes of zinc, but out of these isotopes, the most abundant isotope is ⁶⁴Zn and its abundance is around 49%.
• The melting point and boiling point of zinc is 692.6 K and 1180 K.

Chemical properties of zinc

• Zinc is not much reactive metal and it is a strong reducing agent.
• Zinc can react with both acids as well as alkalis.
• The electronic configuration of zinc is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² and it has completely filled d-orbitals.
• The thin layer of zinc oxide is formed on the zinc metal when zinc is kept open in the air.
• The salts of zinc burn with a bluish-green flame.

Uses of zinc

Here are some uses of the zinc element.

• Most of the zinc is used in Galvanization of iron.
• Zinc is also required for proper functioning of the human body.
• Zinc is also used as an alloying element with other metals to get the improved properties.
• Electric batteries also contain zinc.
• Zinc is also present in sunscreens, paints, etc.

External resources:

1. Zinc – Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table. (n.d.). Zinc – Element Information, Properties and Uses | Periodic Table. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/30/zinc
2. Zinc – Wikipedia. (2014, April 25). Zinc – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc
3. It’s Elemental – The Element Zinc. (n.d.). It’s Elemental – the Element Zinc. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele030.html
4. C&EN: IT’S ELEMENTAL: THE PERIODIC TABLE – ZINC. (n.d.). C&EN: IT’S ELEMENTAL: THE PERIODIC TABLE – ZINC. https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/80th/zinc.html?
5. Zinc Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). Zinc Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/zinc-statistics-and-information
6. Zinc | Zn | ChemSpider. (n.d.). Zinc | Zn | ChemSpider. http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.22430.html?rid=ba6c197f-770a-43f8-a6cf-ac855b5b15f4&page_num=0
7. Atomic Data for Zinc (Zn). (n.d.). Atomic Data for Zinc (Zn). https://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/Handbook/Tables/zinctable1.htm
8. Atomic Weight of Zinc | Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights. (n.d.). Atomic Weight of Zinc | Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights. https://ciaaw.org/zinc.htm
9. Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. (n.d.). Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. https://periodic.lanl.gov/30.shtml
10. Possolo, et al. (2018, January 4). Interpreting and propagating the uncertainty of the standard atomic weights (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry, 90(2), 395–424. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2016-0402
11. Emsley, J. (2011). Nature’s Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements. United Kingdom: OUP Oxford.
12. Haynes, W. M. (Ed.). (2014, June 4). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. https://doi.org/10.1201/b17118
13. Electronic structure of the elements. (2000, March). The European Physical Journal C, 15(1–4), 78–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02683401
14. James A. M. & Lord M. P. (1992). Macmillan’s chemical and physical data. Macmillan.
15. Bedford, et al. (1996, April 1). Recommended values of temperature on the International Temperature Scale of 1990 for a selected set of secondary reference points. Metrologia, 33(2), 133–154. https://doi.org/10.1088/0026-1394/33/2/3
16. Allred, A. (1961, June). Electronegativity values from thermochemical data. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 17(3–4), 215–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1902(61)80142-5